Dinda is the cover for unfit Umesh

OUR BUREAU

Ashok Dinda

Calcutta: Bengal pacer Ashok Dinda may have to train with the Indian team, in the lead-up to the second Test against England, at the Wankhede, beginning from Friday.

It is understood that Dinda, who was in Mumbai to attend the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Annual Awards ceremony, has been asked to stay back and practice with the Mahendra Singh Dhonis as there’s a cloud over Umesh Yadav’s fitness.

While the exact status of Umesh’s injury was not made official, the buzz is that that pacer has been ruled out of the Wankhede Test with a back problem. In fact, the injury may force Umesh out of cricket for quite some time.

Umesh, who picked up four wickets in the Ahmedabad Test, underwent a scan on Wednesday.

Dinda, who received the Madhavrao Scindia Award for being the highest wicket-taker in the 2011-12 Ranji Trophy, was also called up as a cover for Ishant Sharma before the start of the first Test as the latter was suffering from viral fever.

But with Dhoni opting for Zaheer Khan and Umesh, there was no place for Dinda. Eventually though, he was released by the Board so that he could play Bengal’s Ranji Trophy home match against Gujarat.

For the record, Dinda’s tally in two innings of the Gujarat match read five for 155.

Though Umesh has been rendered unfit, Ishant has regained fitness. Should Dhoni opt for two seamers, Ishant is likely to be the second pacer in the playing XI after Zaheer.

India are leading the four-match series 1-0 after winning the opening tie by nine wickets. The second Test begins on Friday, at the Wankhede.